Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out, but my winter arc has been going crazy.

Naruto was training to get stronger. It had been a week since he had felt that surge of energy and he had been discharged from the hospital that day. Just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine. He had two threats now that could rival him in baryon mode If they ever came at him back-to-back, could he last?

He had gotten the Flying Thunder God down after two days of training and could do it at a competent level, or he could throw it and teleport himself or other objects 20 meters away.—a decent range but still leagues from what the scroll said a master could achieve. If he was going to meet these new challenges, he'd need more.

"Naruto, this won't be enough. You have to be faster—and stronger."

"I know, Kurama!" he replied, frustrated. "But gaining fitness takes time, especially to this level."

Kurama's tone was uncharacteristically thoughtful. "There is something... a method the Sage once used, but it comes with a cost."

Naruto's eyes flashed. "Why are you just now telling me about this?"

Because it uses your life force, brat. Kurama's voice held a tone of caution. In the Sage's tongue, it's called Seiiki Bunshin no Jutsu—'Vitality Clone.' It uses a part of your own life to make an exact replica of you. Through it, you can train your physical body directly. The Sage used it, but it shortened his life. Even he wasn't immune.

Naruto's breath caught as he thought it over. He'd heard rumors of such techniques, but never this close. "How much would it take off, if I'm only training?"

Kurama hesitated. With your Uzumaki blood, even one hundred clones a day wouldn't mean much for a month—but each clone will drain a bit of your essence. You'd be trading vitality for power, but at this rate, it may be your only option.

Naruto clenched his fists, determination outweighing his fear, What are the hand signs?

Kurama responded, They're familiar ones: Ram, Snake, Tiger for clones, followed by Dog, Ox, and Tiger to bind it to your life force. Be warned, Naruto. This isn't like Shadow Clones. You'll feel the wear.

If you train like this for a month you should be at the level of fitness needed to use Baryon mode without any drawbacks.

Let's get started then.

Jigen had been having a bad month. First A promising vessel dies of unknown causes. Then, he had a brutal encounter with Naruto, leaving him shaken. But now—now he felt something worse. A surge of energy, so strong that it unsettled him. It left him feeling something he hadn't felt in eons. Scared.

"Amado, I require your assistance." Jigen Commanded.

"I will be there immediately, Lord Jigen." Amado said subserviently.

Within three minutes, Amado was in the room, expression unreadable.

"Locate that energy surge from last week. Spare no resource." Jigen commanded Amado.

"I was already working on it, Lord Jigen," Amado said with a small nod, "and I'm close."

Jigen's gaze sharpened. "Good. Find it. I want to know the moment you do."

And with that, Amado left the room.

Sasuke had never felt so alive. Every step, every breath, felt electrified, as if his body was a conduit for raw, untamed power. His vision was sharper, colors more vivid, and details once overlooked now seemed glaringly obvious. His body moved with a precision and speed that made even his past feats pale in comparison. Most strikingly, his chakra reserves surged, deeper and more potent than ever before—a vast ocean of energy at his command.

Nothing can stop me now. I will make the world in my image. Sasuke triumphantly thought.

With his Ironheart-enhanced body, Sasuke felt a boundless energy that pushed him far beyond the need for rest or sustenance. He had made it to the land of stone in 2 days—a journey that previously demanded a week—was a testament to his newfound strength.

Occasionally, he paused to look around at the birds. He especially liked blue birds. They held a strange nostalgia for him, reminding him of his past self—a blue bird floating aimlessly in the winds of fate. But now, he was like a hawk, in control of where he went.

This transformation wasn't just about physical enhancement; it reflected his evolution as a person. He was no longer a victim of circumstances, he was a force of will, carving out his own destiny, rather than the world around him. Yet, even amidst this overwhelming strength, the sight of the blue birds hinted at a trace of his old self, a poignant reminder of the man he used to be.

He had yet to test out any new abilities the Ironheart may have granted him, but he was confident it was more than what he had already seen.

He had made it to Iwagakure in an hour. His goal was simple: to see his reflection, to confront the changes wrought by his transformation.

He had made it into the village easy enough; It was easy to mask his presence from people inferior to him, even with his large chakra pool now. All he had to do was find a clothing shop, which happened to be right down the road he had found himself on.

He made his way into the shop, the smell of fabric wiggling its way into his nose.

"Hello sir, is there anything that I can do to help you today." The clerk of the store asked politely

"Where is a mirror?" Susuake asked

"It is just back there, sir." The clerk said nicely, pointing to the back.

He strode purposefully to the mirror and positioned himself at its center. The reflection that met his gaze left him momentarily stunned. He was no longer the man he remembered. He is 6 feet tall now (~183cm). His hair was lighter, a light black, a shade straddling the line between gray and not gray. His eyes were no longer onyx, they were a metallic purple, with concentric rings around his pupil. His skin had remained the same tint of white. His chest was visible where he had been struck with electricity by the iron heart. There was a scar. It looked like lightning had branched out in a circle on his skin. How the clerk didn't react to this, he did not know. Or the eyes.

The mirror reflected not just his altered appearance but the culmination of his journey thus far—a man remade, no longer bound by the past but still tethered to it by scars both physical and emotional. This was the new Sasuke, a figure of strength, purpose, and an unrelenting resolve to confront whatever lay ahead.

It had been a day since he had been in Iwagakure. He had descended to go to the uninhabited parts of the land of earth to see if he had gained new powers from the Ironheart.

The field he was in was colorized by gray stone and large rocks jutting out of the ground. The blue sky was covered by dark clouds. Sasuke thought this was the perfect place to test out his new powers.

He knew what his eyes were, his instincts were telling him that they were the Rinnegan, the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths. He did not know how but he knew how to use them.

He aimed his hand at one of the rocks jutting out of the ground and yelled, "Shinra Tensei." And as he said those words, energy raced from his arm, out from his hand and rippled through the air with destructive force. The rocks were shredded into fragments of their original size.

The debris hovered in the air momentarily. A smirk had formed on Sasuke's face, he then called out, "Banshō Ten'in." The fragments responded instantly, as if obeying a master's hurtled towards him at blinding speed, an avalanche seeking its origin. Sasuke leaped to the side, barely dodging the stones that slammed into the ground where he had just stood moments before.

He straightened, the thrill of his new found power surging through him. These were not simply techniques: no, they were tools of domination, and he would make everyone fall under his dominion. Yet, he knew this was only the beginning. His Rinnegan held more secrets, secrets he had to uncover if he were to subjugate the entire world and destroy all corruption.

Naruto was in his apartment. Had been three days since he had been discharged from the hospital and this was the first time he had spent any meaningful time there. He was either training his body with his Vitality clones or at Ichiraku ramen.

In three days time he had gained the equivalent of three-hundred days worth of fitness and was feeling better than he ever had in his entire life. He could not feel any drain on his life force, but that was probably the Uzumaki blood in him, which would mitigate the effects.

He always had 100 shadow clones working on various aspects of his training—chakra control, mastering the Flying Thunder God technique, and anything else he and Kurama thought could be useful. Right now 100 vitality clones were training his physical body.

Despite the intense training regimen, both Naruto and Kurama were bored. That was saying something, especially since Kurama hadn't felt bored in over 300 years (a long story in itself).

Naruto stared out the window of his bedroom, watching her bustle of Konoha's streets with mild interest. The steady hum of outside contrasted sharply with the whirlwind of activity happening within him—both physically and mentally.

Kurama's grumbling voice broke the silence.

Oi, Brat, We've reached a plateau. All this training, and yet the real threats are still leagues away. This boredom isn't just in my head; it's in yours too.

Naruto signed, rolling over in his bed, I know, Kurama. But what else can we do? We've already pushed my body and chakra to the limits in such a short time. Even with the clones, there is only so much I can do on my own.

Then stop relying on yourself, Brat. Kurama's voice was sharp. There's a world full of power and knowledge out there. Maybe it's time to seek out allies—or rivals—that can push you further.

Naruto considered this. Kurama was right; he couldn't carry everything alone, not with the threats looming over them. But where would he start? He was already leagues ahead of most shinobi in the village, and his allies were busy with their own missions and responsibilities.

"Who's left?" Naruto muttered. "I've trained with Kakashi-sensei, and Sasuke's off doing... whatever Sasuke does. I can't exactly barge in on Gaara for another sparring session."

Think bigger, Naruto. There are others out there—legends, even beyond the Great Nations. Or have you already forgotten your father's lessons about the toads, or the other great summoning clans?

Then let's go pay a visit to the toads shall we.

Naruto adjusted his gear as he reached the outskirts of the forest. His pace was brisk, leaping from branch to branch with ease. The scent of morning dew and the faint rustle of leaves accompanied him, but his mind was focused on the task ahead.

Do you think they'll have anything new for me, Kurama? Naruto asked, curiosity tinging his voice.

The toads are ancient and have secrets even you haven't scratched the surface of, Kurama replied. And it's not just about what they can teach you. The connection to nature, the refinement of Sage Mode—you'll need every edge if you want to face what's coming.

As the landscape shifted, Naruto felt the distinct pull of natural energy. Mount Myōboku's aura was like an old friend welcoming him back. The familiar twisting paths, the great statues of toads carved into the cliffs, and the bubbling streams brought a wave of nostalgia.

Naruto soon arrived at the Great Toad Sage's chamber. The massive, ancient toad sat atop his dais, his eyes half-closed in a meditative state.

"Ah, Naruto," the Great Toad Sage said, his voice deep and slow. "I foresaw your return. The winds of fate carry you here once again."

Naruto knelt respectfully. "Grandpa Sage, I need your help. There are threats out there stronger than I've ever faced. I need to become even stronger—not just for me, but for the world."

The Great Toad Sage studied him for a moment. "Strength... yes. But strength is not just physical, Naruto. To grow truly strong, you must confront not only the enemies before you but also the storms within."